Steven Dolan of Dolan Farms (Photo courtesy Seth and Amber Averitt)KENTUCKY (3/22/14) — Bowling Green’s Community Farmer’s Market is an indoor year-round farmer’s market, where farmers and vendors work to help provide the community with fresh, healthy, locally grown food and goods.

Dolan Farms

When Dolan Farms joined the Market, owner Steve Dolan was instantly impressed with the open and free way of what the market had to offer.

“I am originally from Alabama and moved to the Bowling Green area in 2003,” said Dolan. “I didn’t get into the farming aspect until 2005.”

Dolan came from a family of farmers, but most of his family quit the farming business during WWII.

“My family got out of farming during WWII,” said Dolan. “I just had a big feeling to get back into it. The only time I experienced farm life was when I would go and visit relatives.”

Dolan Farms primarily raises beef and has it processed for retail for customers to purchase at the market.

“I grow a few vegetables but I mainly raise and process beef,” said Dolan.

Dolan said that he has set up his farm to have a place to raise catfish since it was really hard to find good, fresh fish in the Warren County area.

“I am getting ready to start something new here soon,” said Dolan. “I will be bringing in catfish to the market. I dug this hole when we had a really bad drought one year with the intention of having a water supply for my cows. But, I have worked with a really good friend back home, who raised catfish and he has given me the guidance to stock my pond.”

Dolan said that once he goes through the training class, he will be able to start selling his fish at the market.

“The class is sponsored by the Kentucky State University,” said Dolan. “They have a mobile processing facility. So, when I take the class, I can have it brought out to my farm and hooked up and uses their mobile processing facility, then brings it to the market to sell. I plant to start this project this fall.”

Dolan encourages people to come out and visit the year round market and enjoy the local food movement.

Owners Alan and Saundra Davis of Sunny Point Gardens started their adventure with farming in the winter of 2010, when they decided to build their own greenhouse and put their hobby into use.

“Our farm is located about 26 miles north of Bowling Green in Edmonson County,” said Alan. “We grow organic produce and fruit. We just recently finished construction on a hydroponic greenhouse. So, we will be able to double our salad greens.”

Before the Davis Family became farmers, they owned and operated a photography business for more than 35 years.

“We are now in our fourth season with farming,” said Alan. “From the beginning, we have always had an interest in horticulture and a growing hobby. So, when we decided to sell our photography business, we thought we should go ahead and try this organic farming.”

Sunny Point Gardens specializes in growing lettuce, kale, spinach and other greens for salads, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries. They also use a five high tunnel system that allows them to grow tomatoes, cucumbers, green beans, sugar snap peas, new potatoes, celery, herbs, green onions and much more.

Saundra’s fresh bouquets have also become a mainstay in the community, offering many varieties of flowers the season has to offer.

Alan said that it’s really important for the business to use more organic techniques rather than using chemicals and pesticides to produce fresh and healthy food for their customers.

Meltdown ice cream is made with lots of passion and love from owner Susan Warrell, who is solely based out of the Bowling Green Community Farmer’s Market.

“I got the name from researching different ice cream terms,” said Warrell. “It is an actual term for how ice cream melts.”

Warrell uses local milk, cream and fruits or vegetables of the current season to make her ice creams. Everything is prepared from scratch and made to be extra creamy and rich.

“If I can buy everything locally, that’s what I do,” said Warrell. “I buy and use fresh fruits and vegetables. I do not freeze them. So, once the fruit of the season is over, I won’t use that fruit again until it’s in season again. It allows me to have seasonal flavors for each real season and to be creative.”

Meltdown is best known for its Pig Candy, Sweet Cream and Fro Ho Co.

“I make this ice cream where I use Kentucky maple and pieces of sugar bacon,” said Warrell. “This is called Pig Candy. It’s my most sold all year round. I buy fresh bacon from one of the vendors here.”

Warrell is currently in the process of branching out to other farmer markets locally and statewide. She is also looking into selling her ice creams in stores that sell Kentucky Proud products.

Owners Dan and Jennifer Kinsner have been a part of the Bowling Green Community Farmer’s Market for eight years and going on six years with beekeeping.

“We are going into our sixth year in beekeeping,” said Dan. “Right now, I have 16 beehives. We have high hopes that we will be able to produce a lot of honey this year, as long as the weather gets better.”

Summer Garden Memories saw such a high demand for real fresh honey and decided to investigate if it was possible for them to take on such a project. They also specialize in fresh farm eggs, dried apples and herbs, homemade jams and jellies, heirloom tomatoes, and seasonal produce.

“We went and talked to a few bee keepers,” said Dan. “We looked at their hives and decided it was something they were willing to try. The process itself isn’t that hard. Right now, with the weather like it is, there isn’t much to do, except work on the equipment and getting ready for the warmer seasons.”

Dan said they check the hives once every couple weeks to keep up the maintenance. During spring and summer time it is a different story, he said.

“During the colder weather, there isn’t much use in opening the hives,” said Dan. “If I don’t see bees flying above the hive or if I can’t hear them when I stick my ear to the hive, then obviously something might be wrong. But, as long as I can, then the bees are fine.”

Dan urges people to support locally owned farmers and vendors.

“Make sure you get out and support local farmers and vendors,” said Dan. “When you buy local, you know it’s fresh and where it has come from. It’s not something that has been shipped over thousands of miles.”